Tokyo skyline at night with glittering city lights and Rainbow Bridge

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo Travel Guide

Ancient temples beside neon-lit skyscrapers — Tokyo is the world's most dynamic city, where Edo-era tradition meets cutting-edge technology.

Best Time to Visit

Mar–May / Oct–Nov

Days Recommended

3–7 days

Daily Budget

¥6,000–18,000

From Osaka

2h 30m (Shinkansen)

Tokyo is unlike any other city on Earth — a megalopolis of 14 million people that somehow balances ancient Buddhist temples with the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, Michelin-starred cuisine with ¥800 ramen, and serene imperial gardens beside electric anime districts. Whether you're drawn to the moving history of Senso-ji, the neon spectacle of Shibuya, or the fresh-from-the-sea breakfasts at Tsukiji, Tokyo rewards every type of traveler. First-time visitors need at least 3–4 days; even frequent visitors discover something new on every trip.

Top Attractions in Tokyo

🏮

Senso-ji Temple

浅草寺

Edo Japan's most ancient and important Buddhist temple, founded in 628 AD. The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with its giant red paper lantern is Tokyo's most photographed sight. The Nakamise shopping street leading to the main hall is lined with traditional shops selling ningyo-yaki sweets, paper fans, and lacquerware.

⏰ HoursDaily 6:00–17:00 (Main Hall); grounds open 24 hours

💴 AdmissionFree (main hall inner areas ¥200)

🚶 Getting There5 min walk from Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or Toei Asakusa Line)

✓ Kaminarimon Gate (giant red lantern)✓ Nakamise Shopping Street✓ Main Hall and Five-story Pagoda✓ Asakusa neighborhood retains old Edo-era atmosphere

💡 Insider Tip: Come at 6 AM before the crowds arrive — the temple grounds are serene and the morning light is perfect for photography. The Okuyama area behind the main hall has a small amusement park, garden, and traditional entertainment venues.

🚦

Shibuya Crossing

渋谷スクランブル交差点

The world's busiest pedestrian intersection — up to 3,000 people cross simultaneously when the lights change. Surrounded by giant video screens, neon lights, and constant energy, this is the heartbeat of modern Tokyo. The view from the Starbucks overlooking the crossing (or the free Scramble Square observation deck) is iconic.

⏰ HoursOpen 24 hours; pedestrian lights active 6:00–24:00

💴 AdmissionFree; Scramble Square Observatory ¥2,000

🚶 Getting There2 min walk from Shibuya Station (all lines)

✓ World's busiest pedestrian crossing (3,000+ people per crossing)✓ Overlooking view from Shibuya Sky or Starbucks rooftop✓ Hachiko statue nearby (famous loyal dog)✓ Center-gai shopping street with 200+ shops

💡 Insider Tip: The free view from Starbucks (1F Tsutaya-SHIBUYA) is packed — arrive before 10 AM or after 22:00 for a seat. The paid Shibuya Sky observation deck has the best aerial view and is worth it on a clear night.

🗼

Tokyo Tower

東京タワー

Built in 1958 and inspired by the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower stands 333m tall and remains Tokyo's most iconic landmark. Painted international orange and white, it's beautiful by day and dramatically lit at night. Two observation decks offer panoramic city views.

⏰ HoursDaily 9:00–23:00 (last entry 22:30)

💴 AdmissionMain Deck (150m): ¥1,200 adults, ¥700 children; Top Deck (250m): ¥3,000 adults

🚶 Getting There5 min walk from Akabanebashi Station (Toei Oedo Line)

✓ Main Deck at 150m with glass floor panels✓ Top Deck at 250m for panoramic 360° views✓ One Piece Tower themed area (1F–5F)✓ Best viewed from Shiba Park for full tower shots

💡 Insider Tip: Buy tickets online in advance to skip queues. For the best exterior photos, head to Shiba Park behind the tower at dusk when both the illuminated tower and the setting sun are in the same shot. Also visible from the free observation deck at the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.

🌸

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

新宿御苑

Tokyo's most beautiful park, spanning 144 acres with three distinct garden styles: French Formal, English Landscape, and Japanese Traditional. Home to over 1,000 cherry trees, it's the top cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo. Originally an imperial garden, it opened to the public in 1949.

⏰ HoursTue–Sun 9:00–16:30 (Mar–Oct 9:00–18:00); closed Monday and New Year's holidays

💴 Admission¥500 adults, ¥250 children; free for under-6

🚶 Getting There10 min walk from Shinjuku Station (South Exit) or Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)

✓ 1,000+ cherry trees (best late March–early April)✓ French Formal Garden with symmetrical rose hedges✓ Large greenhouse with tropical plants✓ Traditional Japanese tea house (matcha service available)

💡 Insider Tip: Unlike most parks, alcohol is not permitted in Shinjuku Gyoen — so the crowds are family-friendly and peaceful compared to Ueno Park. Arrive at opening (9 AM) during cherry blossom season for the best experience before the queues form.

🍣

Tsukiji Outer Market

築地場外市場

While the main fish auction moved to Toyosu in 2018, Tsukiji's vibrant outer market remains a must-visit for fresh seafood, street food, and Japanese kitchenware. The market operates early morning and is best visited for breakfast (from 6 AM) — thick tamagoyaki, sea urchin on rice, and freshest tuna sashimi sets.

⏰ HoursMost stalls open 5:00–14:00; best 6:00–11:00; many closed Wednesdays

💴 AdmissionFree to enter; budget ¥1,500–3,000 for breakfast/snacks

🚶 Getting There5 min walk from Tsukiji Station (Toei Oedo Line) or 10 min walk from Tsukijishijo Station (Toei Oedo Line)

✓ Fresh seafood breakfast from 6 AM (tuna, sea urchin, salmon roe)✓ Tamagoyaki (egg roll) stalls that let you sample✓ Japanese knife shops (top chefs buy here)✓ Over 150 vendors in a compact outdoor market

💡 Insider Tip: Come hungry and go early (6–8 AM). The best breakfast strategy: start with a small tamagoyaki, then get a sea urchin or tuna chirashi bowl from Tsukiji Tama Sushi. Bring cash — most vendors are cash-only.

🎮

Akihabara

秋葉原

Tokyo's electric town and otaku (anime/manga fan) paradise. Multi-story electronics shops, anime merchandise stores, maid cafes, retro game arcades, and figure shops fill every block. Whether you're into vintage electronics, manga, or idol culture, Akihabara is Tokyo at its most uniquely Japanese.

⏰ HoursMost shops open 11:00–20:00 daily

💴 AdmissionFree to explore; budget varies

🚶 Getting There1 min walk from Akihabara Station (JR Chuo-Sobu Line, Keihintohoku Line, or Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)

✓ Multi-story anime merchandise shops (Yodobashi Camera, Animate)✓ Retro game centers with UFO catchers and rhythm games✓ Maid cafes where costumed staff serve coffee and perform✓ Taito Station arcade (6 floors of games)

💡 Insider Tip: The best electronics deals are in the small shops on the side streets off Chuo-Dori, not the giant stores. For retro games, check the used game section at Super Potato (3F, above JOYFUL TRAIN store) for Famicom and Super Famicom cartridges at fair prices.

⛩️

Harajuku & Meiji Shrine

原宿・明治神宮

Two contrasting worlds in walking distance: the peaceful Meiji Shrine (dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, surrounded by 70,000 trees) and the youth fashion chaos of Takeshita Street. Omotesando nearby is Tokyo's Champs-Élysées, lined with flagship luxury stores and a great café culture.

⏰ HoursMeiji Shrine: Sunrise to sunset (varies seasonally); Takeshita Street: 10:00–20:00

💴 AdmissionMeiji Shrine grounds: Free; Main Inner Shrine: ¥1,000

🚶 Getting There1 min walk from Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meijijingu-mae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda/Fukutoshin Line)

✓ Meiji Shrine inner garden (Japanese irises in June)✓ Giant torii gate at Meiji Shrine entrance (one of Japan's largest)✓ Takeshita Street: decora fashion, crepes, and kawaii merchandise✓ Omotesando: luxury boutiques and the Prada Building

💡 Insider Tip: The Meiji Shrine is magical early morning before 8 AM — misty forest atmosphere, locals doing traditional archery practice, and almost no tourists. Combine with a Harajuku crepe (from Marion Crepes, the original since 1976) for the perfect morning.

🎨

teamLab Planets

チームラボプラネッツ

An immersive digital art museum by the Tokyo art collective teamLab, featuring large-scale installations where you walk barefoot through water rooms, flower projections, and infinite mirrors. One of Tokyo's most popular modern attractions — advance booking is essential.

⏰ HoursDaily 10:00–21:00 (seasonal variation; check website)

💴 Admission¥3,200 adults, ¥2,300 students, ¥1,000 children (ages 4–12)

🚶 Getting There3 min walk from Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome Line)

✓ Wading through knee-deep water reflecting infinite koi fish✓ Giant flower room where virtual flowers bloom and die in real-time✓ Mirror room with floating sphere lights that react to your touch✓ Barefoot experience (socks required for entry)

💡 Insider Tip: Book tickets at least 2 weeks in advance — popular weekends sell out a month ahead. Wear light, quick-drying clothing (you'll walk through shallow water). Morning slots have smaller crowds. The teamLab Borderless museum (newly reopened in Azabudai Hills 2024) is the larger, more ambitious sister site.

What to Eat in Tokyo

🍜

Ramen

MUST TRY

ラーメン

Tokyo-style ramen features a soy-based (shoyu) broth that's clear and complex, typically served with wavy noodles, chashu pork, nori, and soft-boiled soy egg (ajitsuke tamago). Ichiran (individual booths, no eye contact) and Fuunji (rich tsukemen dipping ramen) are iconic Tokyo ramen experiences.

📍 Where: Fuunji (Shinjuku), Ichiran (multiple), Afuri (yuzu-shio shoyu), Konjiki Hototogisu (Shinjuku)💴 ¥850–1,500

🍣

Tokyo-style Sushi

MUST TRY

江戸前寿司

Edo-mae (Tokyo-style) sushi is traditional nigiri — a small pillow of hand-pressed rice topped with fresh seafood. The classic form originated in Tokyo (then Edo) when the rice was seasoned with red vinegar. At Tsukiji Outer Market you can get a 10-piece set for ¥1,500–2,500.

📍 Where: Tsukiji Outer Market, Sushisho (upscale), Sushi Saito, Midori Sushi (affordable)💴 ¥1,500–5,000 (casual); ¥20,000+ (high-end omakase)

🍤

Tempura

MUST TRY

天ぷら

Light, crackingly crispy batter fried at high temperature — when done right, tempura reveals rather than conceals. Tokyo's famous shrimp tempura (ebi), seasonal vegetables, and kakiage (mixed tempura) are emblematic. The best spots fry to order, piece by piece.

📍 Where: Tendon Tenya (affordable chain), Yamanoue Hotel Tempura, Isetan Shinjuku depachika, Kondo Tempura💴 ¥800–2,000 (tendon); ¥10,000+ (high-end counter)

🍢

Yakitori

焼き鳥

Chicken and vegetable skewers grilled over charcoal. Every part of the chicken is used — thigh (momo), skin (kawa), cartilage (nankotsu), liver (rebā) — each with its own character. The yakitori alley (Yurakucho yakitori street under the Yamanote Line tracks) is a Tokyo institution.

📍 Where: Yurakucho Yakitori Alley, Toritama (Shibuya), local izakayas everywhere💴 ¥120–300 per skewer; set meal ¥2,500–4,000

🍛

Katsu Curry

カツカレー

Japan's beloved combination of breaded pork or chicken cutlet (tonkatsu/chicken katsu) with thick Japanese curry sauce. Tokyo's CoCo Ichibanya chain lets you customize spice level (1–10) and toppings. Upscale versions use Berkshire pork with homemade curry.

📍 Where: CoCo Ichibanya (chain, everywhere), Katsu Curry Maisen (Omotesando), Tonkatsu Maisen💴 ¥900–2,000

🔄

Conveyor Belt Sushi

回転寿司

Japan's quirky and delicious invention — sushi plates circulate on a conveyor belt past your seat and you grab what looks good. Color-coded plates indicate price (¥110–440 per plate). High-tech chains like Kura Sushi have touchscreen ordering and automated delivery.

📍 Where: Sushiro, Kura Sushi (tech-enabled), Hamazushi, local kaiten sushi shops💴 ¥110–440/plate; budget ¥1,500–2,500 per person

Getting to Tokyo

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From Osaka (Shin-Osaka)

2h 30m¥14,720 (unreserved)

Method: Shinkansen (Nozomi) — Every 10–15 minutes

💡 Nozomi is the fastest but not covered by JR Pass. JR Pass holders take Hikari (3h) or Kodama (4h). Book reserved seats for guaranteed seating during peak travel.

🚄

From Kyoto

2h 15m¥13,850 (unreserved)

Method: Shinkansen (Nozomi/Hikari) — Every 10–15 minutes

💡 The same Nozomi/Hikari Shinkansen from Osaka continues to Tokyo — board at Kyoto Station. JR Pass holders use Hikari (2h40m).

🚄

From Hiroshima

3h 45m¥18,040 (unreserved)

Method: Shinkansen (Nozomi) — Every 10–30 minutes

💡 Nozomi covers Tokyo-Hiroshima non-stop in 3h45m. JR Pass holders use Hikari (4h20m) — reserve seats for this route. A night bus is a budget option (¥5,000–8,000, 8–9 hours).

🚄

From Sapporo (New Chitose Airport)

1h 30m¥6,000–18,000 (advance booking)

Method: Flight (ANA/JAL/Peach) — Hourly departures

💡 Flying to Tokyo (Haneda or Narita) from Hokkaido is much faster than the 8-hour Shinkansen on the Hokkaido Shinkansen. Book LCC (Peach/Jetstar) 4–8 weeks in advance for ¥6,000–9,000.

Book Your Tokyo Hotel

Shinjuku and Shibuya are the most central bases for first-time visitors — excellent transit connections, endless dining, and nightlife. Asakusa suits those who want to be near Senso-ji and experience a more traditional Tokyo atmosphere. All three areas have options at every price point.

Expedia — Shinjuku Hotels Agoda — Shinjuku Hotels

Expedia — Asakusa Hotels Agoda — Asakusa Hotels

Expedia — Shibuya Hotels Agoda — Shibuya Hotels

Book Tokyo Experiences

🎫 Klook Tokyo Tours 🌍 GetYourGuide Tokyo 🗺️ Viator Tokyo

Tokyo Travel FAQ

How many days do I need in Tokyo?▼

First-time visitors should budget 3–4 days minimum to cover the highlights: Asakusa/Senso-ji, Shibuya/Harajuku, Shinjuku, and one day for a museum or specialized interest (Akihabara, Odaiba, Ueno). 5–7 days allows for day trips to Nikko, Kamakura, or Hakone, and gives breathing room to explore neighborhoods properly.

What is the best way to get around Tokyo?▼

The Tokyo Metro and JR Yamanote Line cover virtually every major attraction. Buy a Suica or Pasmo IC card (rechargeable tap-to-pay card) on arrival — valid on all trains, buses, and even convenience stores. Avoid taxis (expensive) and walking long distances (Tokyo is larger than it looks on maps).

Is Tokyo expensive?▼

Tokyo has options at every budget. Budget travelers can eat excellent ramen for ¥800, stay in clean hostels for ¥3,000/night, and use the efficient public transit (single rides ¥170–360). Mid-range travelers (¥10,000–20,000/day) have access to excellent restaurants, modest business hotels, and paid attractions. Fine dining and luxury hotels are world-class but priced accordingly.

Do I need to book restaurants in advance in Tokyo?▼

For popular ramen shops and casual restaurants, no reservation is needed — just expect a queue at peak times (12:00–13:30 and 19:00–21:00). For upscale sushi counters (¥20,000+ omakase), reservations are essential and some require a Japanese phone number or hotel concierge to book. Robatayaki and izakayas are typically walk-in.

When is cherry blossom season in Tokyo?▼

Cherry blossoms (sakura) in Tokyo typically peak between late March and early April — usually the last week of March to the first week of April, though this varies by 2–3 weeks year-to-year based on temperature. The best viewing spots are Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park, Chidorigafuchi (moat), and Meguro River. Book accommodation 3–6 months in advance for this period.

Is Tokyo safe?▼

Tokyo consistently ranks as one of the world's safest major cities. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. The main concerns are: pickpockets in crowded areas (Shibuya, Shinjuku), taxi overcharging (use the meter), and scams around Roppongi nightclubs. Using licensed taxis (green or yellow license plates) and avoiding commission-based restaurant touts in Roppongi is sufficient.

What is the best way to get from Tokyo airports to the city?▼

From Narita Airport (60–90 km east): Narita Express (N'EX) to Shinjuku ¥3,070 (90 min) or Keisei Skyliner to Ueno ¥2,520 (41 min). From Haneda Airport (domestic and international, closer to the city): Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho ¥500 (23 min) or Keikyu Line to Shinagawa/Shinbashi from ¥310 (15–30 min). Haneda is far more convenient for central Tokyo.

Plan Your Tokyo Trip

7-Day Tokyo Itinerary First Time Japan 10 Days Tokyo Neighborhoods Guide Japan Shinkansen Guide Kamakura Day Trip Guide